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No Chinese, No Interview

Again reporters and journalists send more complains to IBF for Li Yongbo's no-Chinese-no-interview policy. When an Indonesian reporter asked him a question nicely, he replied in English,"Do you speak Chinese?" and the reporter said no. "I don't speak English. No interview"

"This is not the first complain we receive," says Lindsay Bell--IBF Public Relations Officer.

On the other hand, Peter Gade is the favourite among journalist for his friendliness among the news seekers. Peter never refuse an interview and at the press conference he even spare some time to sit among the journalist crowd.

Another friendly figure at the press conference is former world's top player Korean Park Jo Bong. After his service lifted up Britain and Malaysia's badminton, he is now back to coach Korea. Park joins Gade to sit and spare some time with the journalists.

Again reporters and journalists send more complains to IBF for Li Yongbo's no-Chinese-no-interview policy. When an Indonesian reporter asked him a question nicely, he replied in English,"Do you speak Chinese?" and the reporter said no. "I don't speak English. No interview"

"This is not the first complain we receive," says Lindsay Bell--IBF Public Relations Officer.

On the other hand, Peter Gade is the favourite among journalist for his friendliness among the news seekers. Peter never refuse an interview and at the press conference he even spare some time to sit among the journalist crowd.

Another friendly figure at the press conference is former world's top player Korean Park Jo Bong. After his service lifted up Britain and Malaysia's badminton, he is now back to coach Korea. Park joins Gade to sit and spare some time with the journalists.

Is his english so poor that he can't say what he really wants to say? If that's the case then I don't think it's so bad. An interview would be pretty useless, and potentially damaging, if you can't really voice what you want because of a language barrier. Replying to all questions with just a few words doesn't make for an interesting or informative interview anyway.

However, if he can speak english well enough to conduct a full conversation then shame on him. He's just making himself look like a total arse. Not a good representation of his team or country as well.

I think its only the coach too...Li is ALWAYS THAT ARROGANT but he can afford to act like that... I remember during the tc/uc 2002 finals in China, Li held a press conference everyday after they won their matches (he thought they can grab hold of the tc that year ) but after the semis when they eventually lost to Malaysia, he cancelled the press conference and wasnt accepting any interview... I was a China supporter back then but still i think its great that they lost...that'll teach him(no offence to his fans...)

If Li YongBo is reported as saying that...I can only feel sorry for the game of badminton. TC&UC are the best time to showcase the world best badminton players & to promote badminton. And to have one of the top countries coach coming out to make such comment...Ouch!
I would think an interpreter would resolve this problem. Come to think of it, Li YongBohe could use a PR person as well.

Let's give Li Yong Bo the benefit of the doubt here. What we may misconstrue for rudeness, may not be what he intends.

When I first played at this new club, I said "Hi" to everybody, and there were a couple of players who replied (I thought pretty rudely) "NO ENGLISH!" It was later that I found out that they literally COULD NOT COMMUNICATE at all in English ... and were defensive about it.

Let's give Li Yong Bo the benefit of the doubt here. What we may misconstrue for rudeness, may not be what he intends.

When I first played at this new club, I said "Hi" to everybody, and there were a couple of players who replied (I thought pretty rudely) "NO ENGLISH!" It was later that I found out that they literally COULD NOT COMMUNICATE at all in English ... and were defensive about it.

Please give Li Yong Bo a chance and let's see how things develop from here.

It is not nice to say nasty things of anyone if we are not witness to it (eg we did not see the incident on TV with our own eyes unlike the AE MD's Final controversy) and if we have no proof (say of corruption, which is a very serious matter and the accuser can be brought to court) to substantiate the charge.

Maybe one other reason (apart from his inadequacy in the English language)why Li is shy of giving interviews and prevented his charges from doing so could be he has learnt his lesson the last time, when China lost to Malaysia. By 'bragging' and failing to deliver, will cause him to lose face further.

As I recall, Li is very popular with badminton spectators during his heydays as a player. He was colourful and ofter acted like a clown to make his fans happy. It is sad that the burden of the job as head coach has weighed too heavily on him to transform him into almost an introvert, refusing to give simple interviews.

To Li now, it is paramount that China wins the TC because on paper alone, China is miles ahead of the other nations but yet Indonesia has kept the Cup for 5 consecutive times and is determined to retain it on Indonesian soil! The UC is a foregone conclusion for China.